The records were presented by the company in 1970. They consist almost entirely of Official Logs, 1901 to 1913, originally part of the records of the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, who gave them to the company in 1970. The collection includes log books of three of the 'Empress' line, the Empress of India, the Empress of Japan and the Empress of China as well as of other company ships of the pre-First World War period. Also included in the papers are a number of printed pamphlets, time tables and short histories.

Administrative / biographical background
The Canadian Pacific Railway Co. was incorporated in 1881. Its prime responsibility was to build a transcontinental railway from Montreal to Vancouver. This was completed in 1885. In the meantime, in 1883, the company built three steamers for use on the Great Lakes and to assist in the construction of the railway. During the latter half of 1886, seven sailing vessels were chartered to bring tea and other goods from China and Japan to Port Moody, near Vancouver. Early in the next year, more vessels were chartered for a regular service and in 1889 orders were placed for three 6,000 ton vessels, the Empress of India, the Empress of Japan and the Empress of China In 1902 C.P.R. bought out the Canadian interest in the Elder Dempster Co, the Beaver Line, and started their first transatlantic service. With the entry of the C.P.R. into the North Atlantic service, competition soon became very keen with the Allan Line. In 1915 the Allan Line was taken over by the C.P.R. and a new company, the Canadian Pacific Ocean Service took over the operation of the two fleets.